#HealthScience

A groundbreaking analysis published in a leading scientific journal confirms rising concerns about fraud in global research. Sophisticated networks manufacture counterfeit studies at industrial scale, threatening medical advancement, technology, and policy making worldwide. The study, led by data scientists from a major U.S. university and echoed across international media, shows how coordinated schemes infiltrate high-impact journals. As Thailand grows its research base, this issue directly affects how universities, hospitals, and policymakers use scientific evidence to guide health, education, and innovation.

A comprehensive investigation published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed growing concerns about systematic fraud infiltrating global scientific literature, revealing sophisticated networks of counterfeit research that pose unprecedented threats to medical advancement, technological innovation, and evidence-based policymaking worldwide. The landmark study, conducted by Northwestern University data scientists and highlighted through major international media coverage, exposes coordinated manipulation schemes operating at industrial scale, with implications that extend directly to Thailand’s rapidly developing research infrastructure and academic credibility. As Thai universities and healthcare institutions increasingly rely on international scientific literature to guide critical decisions affecting public health, education policy, and technological development, the integrity of global research becomes essential for protecting Thailand’s citizens and advancing national progress.

A landmark study has confirmed growing fears that fraudulent scientific papers, fueled by shadowy “paper mills,” are increasing at an alarming rate and threatening the very foundations of science. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and highlighted by The New York Times, the analysis reveals sophisticated fraud networks and a rapidly proliferating output of fake or low-quality research papers that could contaminate medical, technological, and social advancements worldwide (nytimes.com).

A groundbreaking 85-year study from Harvard University has delivered a clear message about the real drivers behind happiness and long-term health: close, supportive relationships matter more than wealth, fame, or career achievement. Led by the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the research provides compelling evidence that social connections, not personal fortune, are the foundation of a fulfilling life (Big Think).

A landmark 85-year study from Harvard confirms a simple truth: close, supportive relationships matter most for long-term happiness and health—not money or fame. Led by the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the research shows social connections form the foundation of a fulfilling life. This has particular relevance for Thai readers facing rising loneliness in fast-paced urban life and digital culture.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development, launched in 1938, is the longest-running examination of adult life. It started with two groups: Harvard sophomores from privilege and Boston teens from stressed families. Rather than focusing on problems, researchers asked what helps people thrive. Over decades, the study expanded to include spouses and children, and today data come from more than 2,000 participants across 724 families, spanning generations. The guiding question remains: if you could make one choice today to increase lifelong happiness and health, what would it be? The answer consistently points to investing in human relationships. Warm, strong connections are linked to longer, healthier lives.

A wave of new research is reshaping what we know about fatherhood, suggesting that men’s brains undergo measurable, dynamic changes when they become parents—changes often echoing those long attributed to mothers. For Thai families watching the shifting roles of men in parenting and policymakers focused on child development, these findings open remarkable new windows into the neurobiology of caregiving and challenge prevailing cultural stereotypes.

Until recently, the concept of “mom brain” reigned supreme in popular culture and scientific study. Defined by both cognitive shifts and an emotional attunement toward a new child, much has been made about the brain and hormonal changes mothers experience. However, a growing body of work, including the latest research led by a US-based psychology professor at the University of Southern California, finds that becoming a father sparks a unique neurological and hormonal transformation—a phenomenon now being described as “dad brain” (wbur.org).

A wave of recent research is reshaping our understanding of fatherhood. Studies show that men’s brains can change in measurable, dynamic ways after becoming dads—changes that echo what has long been observed in mothers. For Thai families watching shifting parenting roles and for policymakers focused on child development, these findings reveal new insights into caregiving and challenge old stereotypes.

Historically, conversations about parenting often centered on “mom brain,” the idea that mothers undergo cognitive and emotional shifts after birth. Now, researchers from a leading US university report that fatherhood also triggers neurological and hormonal changes. The growing body of evidence suggests that dads engage in a biological process that supports caregiving, a development with broad implications for family life and public policy.

Long revered for its golden blooms and gentle healing touch, Calendula officinalis—commonly known as pot marigold—holds a cherished place in both gardens and herbal medicine cabinets worldwide. Across continents and centuries, this humble flower has played a starring role in soothing wounds, calming inflamed skin, and much more. Modern science is now peeling back the petals of these traditions, revealing a story where ancient wisdom and contemporary research harmoniously intersect—a tale with both rich history and real-world potential for health-conscious readers seeking safe, effective, and culturally resonant remedies.

Calendula officinalis, or pot marigold, has long brightened gardens and healing cabinets. Across centuries, its petals have soothed wounds and calm irritated skin. Today, science is examining these traditions, showing how old wisdom and modern research can align—especially for health-conscious Thai readers seeking safe, effective remedies with cultural resonance.

Calendula carries more than botanical value; it holds cultural, medicinal, and spiritual meaning. In Thailand, respect for nature’s healing gifts is woven into Buddhist practice. While calendula may not be as prominent as some native herbs, its gentle skin-soothing reputation resonates with local preferences for natural remedies and grandmother-guided cures. In Europe and the Mediterranean, the flower is celebrated as “Mary’s Gold,” linking floral therapy with devotion. Its global journey—from Ayurveda in India to Unani medicine in the Middle East—highlights its roles as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and diaphoretic agent. In recent years, research and popular interest have highlighted calendula’s potential in modern skincare and wound care, with discussions grounded in professional sources and institutional findings.

The age-old debate over whether high-repetition, low-weight workouts or low-repetition, high-weight sessions are best for building muscle has taken center stage once again, thanks to recent scientific findings. A new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports sheds fresh light on how different resistance training strategies uniquely influence muscle growth, particularly within the hamstrings—a muscle group critical not just for athletes, but for anyone wanting strong, functional legs. With gym culture on the rise across Thailand and Asia, these insights are especially timely for local fitness enthusiasts, trainers, and the expanding community of health-focused individuals.

A fresh look at how we build muscle is resonating with Thai fitness communities. A recent study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports examined how high-load, low-repetition training compares with low-load, high-repetition methods—especially for the hamstrings, a key muscle group for leg strength and daily mobility. With gym culture expanding across Thailand, these findings come at a timely moment for athletes, recreational lifters, and fitness professionals alike.

In the heart of Thailand’s traditional medicine cabinets sits a plant with a storied history and a pungent aroma—Cleome viscosa, or “ผักเสี้ยนผี.” Revered in folk culture for generations, this herbal remedy, known in various regions as “ส้มเสี้ยนผี,” “ผักเสี้ยนตัวเมีย,” or even the poetic “ไปนิพพานไม่รู้กลับ,” has been transformed from backyard weed into the protagonist of new scientific inquiry. Now, as health-conscious Thais seek natural remedies rooted in local wisdom, the dialogue between tradition and modern research places Cleome viscosa in the spotlight like never before.

Cleome viscosa, known in Thai as “ผักเสี้ยนผี,” sits quietly in many Thai homes and markets. Once just a pungent weed in backyards, it has become a focal point for researchers exploring how local wisdom can inform modern health, especially in health, education, culture, and tourism contexts.

The plant remains deeply rooted in daily Thai life. Leaves, seeds, and stems are used in simple remedies and everyday foods. Traditional practices include fermenting the leaves as a side dish to aid digestion and cooling the body. Folk healers across regions describe its role in reducing fevers, easing muscle pains, and treating minor wounds, often alongside narratives about boosting vitality. As Thailand weighs global health trends, Cleome viscosa invites curiosity about what local knowledge may contribute to contemporary science.

Galangal, known in Thai as kha, stands at the heart of both kitchen flavor and traditional healing. Its pungent aroma and peppery bite are instantly recognizable in tom yum and countless folk remedies. Today, scientists are increasingly validating long-held Thai beliefs about kha, bridging ancient wisdom with evidence-based medicine.

From Bangkok markets to rural villages, kha embodies Thai heritage, resilience, and a holistic view of well-being. As wellness trends evolve worldwide, understanding galangal’s journey helps illustrate how tradition and science can work together for healthier communities.

In the aromatic world of Thai cuisine and traditional medicine, few herbs are as instantly recognizable or culturally resonant as galangal, known locally as “kha” (ข่า). Revered for its pungent, peppery flavor and unique fragrance, galangal has for centuries occupied a central place not just in kitchens, but also in the homes and herbal cabinets of Thailand. Today, this time-honored root stands at the fascinating crossroads between ancient wisdom and modern scientific inquiry, where laboratory research is increasingly validating uses that Thai healers and families have relied on for generations.

For centuries, the towering stalks of อ้อยแดง—known globally as Saccharum officinarum or sugarcane—have waved across Thai landscapes, embodying both agricultural might and healing promise. While most passersby associate อ้อยแดง with sweetness and sugar production, ancient wisdom and new science reveal a far richer, more complex story: one in which this iconic plant’s healing power is celebrated both on temple altars and in the world’s most advanced laboratories.

In kitchens and clinics, at festivals and in village remedies, the red-stemmed variety of sugarcane—often called อ้อยดำ or อ้อยตาแดง—has stood as both staple and symbol. Today, research is illuminating why this time-honored herbal medicine deserves renewed attention from everyone seeking the best of traditional healing and modern health care.

In Thailand’s shaded forest understories grows a plant steeped in both botanical mystery and cultural practice: Tacca chantrieri, locally known as Nerapusee Thai or the black bat flower. Its velvety petals resemble a bat in flight, capturing the imagination of herbalists and drawing attention from modern researchers as it sits at the intersection of folklore and pharmacology.

For generations, the rhizome of Nerapusee Thai has been a valued component in Thai folk medicine. Healers across regions—each with its own dialect and ritual—have used powdered or boiled extracts to address ailments from skin irritations and digestive issues to bites and fevers. The plant wears many local names, such as Ma Thon Lak in Chumphon and Wan Nang Khruan in Nakhon Si Thammarat, illustrating how rural communities weave food, healing, and spiritual belief into daily life. In Thai villages, the plant often sits at the boundary between practical use and protective ritual.

Among the lush, shaded understories of Thailand’s tropical forests grows a plant shrouded in both botanical intrigue and cultural tradition—the enigmatic Tacca chantrieri, known locally as “Nerapusee Thai,” or more vividly as the “black bat flower.” With striking purplish-black petals that mimic a bat in flight, this unusual plant has captured both the imaginations of herbalists and the attention of modern scientists, standing at the crossroads of folklore and pharmacology.

Sugarcane stalks, especially the red-stem variety known in Thai as อ้อยแดง, have long shaped the countryside and the folk healing traditions of Thailand. Beyond sweetness and sugar production, science and traditional knowledge converge to highlight a broader potential: a plant that may support inflammation control, metabolic balance, and overall resilience when prepared in authentic, minimally processed forms.

In Thai kitchens, temples, and village clinics, อ้อยแดง has been a symbol of vitality. Today’s research is clarifying why this heritage deserves a closer look within modern wellness, particularly for Thai readers seeking natural options that complement conventional care.

Thai wisdom holders have long celebrated ส้มโอมือ, also known as Citrus medica L. or Buddha’s Hand. The fragrant fruit grows in temple gardens and village borders, and Thai healers prized every part of the tree for its healing and protective properties. Today, modern science is unraveling the compounds behind these traditional claims, creating a rare convergence of heritage and evidence that speaks to Thai readers and beyond.

In Thai culture, the fingered fruit is a symbol of auspiciousness and prosperity. Its presence at temples during merit-making seasons and New Year celebrations mirrors practices across East Asia, where Buddha’s Hand holds similar cultural meaning. Dried peels perfuming wardrobes and the use of rind in remedies reflect a centuries-old tradition that continues to inspire in kitchens, markets, and herbal shops. According to researchers and local horticulturists, every part of the tree—from leaves to seeds—contributes to wellbeing, with tradition aligning with growing scientific interest.

Thailand’s markets fill with the scent of som-o, the pomelo, especially during the cool season when large, grapefruit-like fruits line the stalls. Thais enjoy its sweet-tart segments at temple fairs and as merit offerings during New Year. But pomelo peel, the thick aroma-filled layer around the fruit, has long been used in Thai traditional medicine for coughs, swelling, skin issues, and indigestion. How much of this old wisdom holds up under scientific scrutiny? We explore the evidence with respect for heritage and a cautious, critical eye.

Thailand’s markets come alive with the fragrance of som-o, or pomelo, especially during the cool season when its hefty, grapefruit-like fruits are stacked high. Many Thais relish its sweet-tart segments at temple fairs or New Year merit offerings. Yet, the greatness of the pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck)—known locally by names such as โกรัยตะลอง, มะขุน, มะโอ, ลีมาบาลี, and สังอู—extends far beyond the fruit bowl. For centuries, Thai traditional medicine has harnessed the thick, aromatic peel of som-o for remedies thought to ease coughs, swelling, skin woes, and indigestion. But how much of the old wisdom has stood up to scientific inquiry? Today, with both respect for heritage and a critical eye, we explore what research reveals about pomelo peel’s healing promise—and where prudent caution remains essential.

Uncaria gambir, commonly known as สีเสียดเทศ, has long been a staple in Southeast Asian homes and apothecaries. In Thai and regional herbal traditions, it has served as an all-purpose remedy—from easing stomach woes to aiding wound healing. Today, researchers are probing gambir’s chemistry and pharmacology, revealing a fusion of culture and science that invites scrutiny, humility, and respect.

Gambir is prepared by boiling and extracting the leaves and twigs of the plant. Its story is deeply tied to regional trade and livelihoods in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where it remains a significant commodity. The plant’s enduring appeal lies in its dual role as a community medicine and a trade product, now the subject of contemporary chemical and biomedical study. According to research from leading institutions, gambir’s traditional use aligns with its rich phytochemistry, including tannins and catechins, which underpin its astringent taste and medicinal applications.

For generations, Thai wisdom keepers have regarded ส้มโอมือ (sôm o mue), or Citrus medica L.―known in English as ‘Buddha’s Hand’, citron, or ส้มมือ (sôm mue)—as a fragrant gift from nature, thriving across temple gardens, village fences, and the annals of ancient pharmacopeias. In an era where health-conscious readers yearn for authentic remedies grounded as much in heritage as in evidence, ส้มโอมือ shines as both a cultural artifact and a rising star of modern pharmacological research. Today, as science investigates the very compounds once praised by village healers, a fascinating convergence emerges: ancient Thai medicinal practices are increasingly gaining validation in the global scientific narrative.